Question reference: S6W-23209
- Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 24 November 2023
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Current status: Answered by Angela Constance on 8 December 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government which public organisation is responsible for safeguarding the nearby residents of HMP & YOI Stirling, including many children and older and disabled people, in light of reports that they continue to experience daily noise disturbances from the facility, and what its position is on how Stirling Council was able to approve the construction of the facility close to local residential estates, in light of reports that there were no industry standard pre-construction surveys and testing carried out in relation to the close proximity of the residential estates.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
Any concerns from residents in relation to general noise disturbances, fall under the remit of the local authority, in this instance Stirling Council.
The responsibility for determining applications for planning permission, and planning enforcement of such decisions, rests primarily with the planning authority for the area, in this case Stirling Council. Such applications are required to be determined in accordance with the development plan for the area unless material considerations indicate otherwise – More information can be found on the Scottish Government Website, specifically Planning circular 3/2022: development management procedures - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .
SPS remains committed to engaging with local residents.